Ninth Circuit Issues Amended Opinion in Zepeda — Same Outcome, Different Reasoning

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here are the new materials:

CA9 Amended Opinion

US En Banc Petition

Zepeda Response to En Banc Petition

From Judge Watford’s now-much-shortened dissent:

I agree with much of the majority’s analysis, particularly its conclusion that whether a tribe has been recognized by the federal government is a question of law. But I disagree with the majority’s ultimate determination that the government failed to present sufficient evidence from which a rational jury could infer that Zepeda has a blood connection to a federally recognized tribe. Under Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979), a rational jury could certainly infer that the reference in Zepeda’s tribal enrollment certificate to “1/4 Tohono O’Odham” is a reference to the federally recognized Tohono O’odham Nation of Arizona.

Panel materials are here.

Materials on affected appeals are here.